Gleaming Geardrake MTG Card
2024-02-09 - Number 361
2024-02-09 - Number 205
2024-02-09 - Number 424
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Artifact Creature — Drake |
| Abilities | Flying,Investigate |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 1 |
Key Takeaways
- Gleaming Geardrake provides card advantage and supports artifact and flyer decks with its synergy and abilities.
- Consider mana demands and high cost when integrating into a deck, as it might affect versatility in gameplay.
- Its meta-relevance and combo potential make it a valuable addition to multiple MTG deck archetypes.
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Gleaming Geardrake. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|
| Izzet Ensoul Artifact | Pioneer | Izzet Ensoul Artifact | Pioneer League 2024-04-16 |
Text of card
Flying When Gleaming Geardrake enters the battlefield, investigate. Whenever you sacrifice an artifact, put a +1/+1 counter on Gleaming Geardrake.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Gleaming Geardrake offers an opportunity for card advantage by potentially replacing itself in your hand when it dies, meaning you may not lose card equity when trading with an opponent’s creature.
Resource Acceleration: Integrating seamlessly into artifact or flyer synergies, the Geardrake can be a cog in the machine that accelerates your resource development, be it through artefact count or enabling higher cost spells in your deck.
Instant Speed: While the Geardrake itself may not be an instant, the card supports strategies that operate at instant speed. Its flying ability grants it an evasiveness, which allows you to apply pressure at opportune moments, keeping opponents on their toes and managing threats accordingly.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Gleaming Geardrake makes you discard a card to initiate its ability. This trade-off could deplete your hand, especially when you’re trying to maintain card advantage in a tight game.
Specific Mana Cost: The casting cost demands a precise combination of mana types. Being restricted to blue mana could make it a bit more challenging to seamlessly fit into multi-color decks, potentially limiting its flexibility.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The cost efficiency of Gleaming Geardrake can come into question when compared to other creatures with similar abilities. With a relatively higher mana requirement, it competes for a spot in your deck against creatures with lower cost and similar or better effects.
Reasons to Include Gleaming Geardrake in Your Collection
Versatility: Gleaming Geardrake offers a flexible role in various deck archetypes given its ability to interact with multiple game mechanics. It can serve as an efficient flyer in tempo decks or act as a defensive tool in control strategies.
Combo Potential: This particular card can be a linchpin in synergistic combos, especially in decks that capitalize on artifact or creature-related triggers. Its entrance or exit from the battlefield could be the key to setting off a chain of powerful effects.
Meta-Relevance: As the MTG competitive scene evolves, having a card with adaptability like Gleaming Geardrake can be crucial. Its utility can shine against a variety of popular decks, ensuring its inclusion can provide a significant edge in shifting metagames.
How to beat
Gleaming Geardrake poses a unique challenge on the battlefield with its ability to fly and deflect direct harm from itself once per turn. Pitted against this artifact creature, your strategy should pivot towards disabling its defenses before launching an attack. Negating the creature’s abilities with cards like Frogify can strip away its power, leaving it vulnerable. Alternatively, you can employ board wipes such as Wrath of God, bypassing its protective shield by not targeting it directly.
Strategies involving flying deterrents such as spiders equipped with reach can also serve as a strong defensive line, keeping the Geardrake at bay. If speed is your game, racing it with aggressive strategies or overwhelming the board with numerous creatures before it can mount a significant defense might seal your victory. Remember, it’s all about timing and applying the right pressure at the right moment.
At the end of the day, a well-prepared deck that anticipates aerial threats and adaptable tactics will often come out on top against creatures like Gleaming Geardrake. A blend of reactive spells, strategic creature deployment, and direct disruption can ensure dominance over this shiny adversary in any MTG match.
Cards like Gleaming Geardrake
Gleaming Geardrake, a fresh innovation in the realm of creature cards for Magic: The Gathering, can be juxtaposed with Avian Oddity, a card that shares the flying ability. The Geardrake’s added edge lies in its power to potentially exile target nonland permanent that an opponent controls. Avian Oddity does not have the same immediate board impact and lacks interaction options.
Along the lines of winged creatures, Sky Tether is another card that interactively engages with flying creatures but from an enchantment perspective, restricting an opponent’s flier rather than offering an aerial threat itself. Considering maneuverability, Gleaming Geardrake offers a dynamic approach to controlling the skies and affecting the battlefield. Whereas, Sky Tether is more of a passive answer to airborne dominance.
As these comparisons highlight, while many cards may share certain features or abilities, nuances like utility, adaptability, and synergy with other cards play a pivotal role in a player’s strategy. Gleaming Geardrake doesn’t just glide over opponents—it disrupts them, making it not just another creature but a tactical choice in game play.
Cards similar to Gleaming Geardrake by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Gleaming Geardrake MTG card by a specific set like Murders at Karlov Manor and Murders at Karlov Manor, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.
For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.
Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.
Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Gleaming Geardrake and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Printings
The Gleaming Geardrake Magic the Gathering card was released in 1 different sets between 2024-02-09 and 2024-02-09. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2024-02-09 | Murders at Karlov Manor | MKM | 361 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Alex Dos Diaz | |
| 2 | 2024-02-09 | Murders at Karlov Manor | MKM | 205 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Filipe Pagliuso | |
| 3 | 2024-02-09 | Murders at Karlov Manor | MKM | 424 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Filipe Pagliuso |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Gleaming Geardrake has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Standardbrawl | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |